Acquisitions
Qloo, the Leading Artificial Intelligence Platform for Culture and Taste, Acquires TasteDive

Qloo, the leading artificial intelligence platform for culture and taste, has acquired TasteDive, a cultural recommendation engine and social community that helps consumers seamlessly discover new things to watch, read, listen to, and play based on their unique preferences. By joining Qloo, TasteDive will be able to better serve consumers through a deeper catalogue and intelligence, as well as expand into new categories like podcasts and dining. Qloo will benefit from expanded global reach and from TasteDive’s API ecosystem which further powers taste personalization.
“Consumer tastes are increasingly fragmented as there’s more to watch, read, listen to and buy than ever, and more ways to do it – people are overwhelmed by choice. TasteDive is the most elegant solution I’ve seen for navigating all that choice and getting truly great recommendations,” said Alex Elias, Founder and CEO of Qloo. “TasteDive does for millions of individuals what Qloo has been doing for brands for years – using AI to make better decisions about culture and taste.”
TasteDive helps consumers discover their taste across broad categories of entertainment choices by identifying, matching and making personalized recommendations based on their interests across authors, books, games, music, movies, TV shows and podcasts. Users get on-spot recommendations based on what they like, while registered users are provided with additional features, such as sharing a taste profile, receiving personalized recommendations, and taking part in a global community of like-minded users who can exchange opinions on their favorite items and follow other users’ activities.
More than 4.5 million users around the world are actively curating their tastes using TasteDive. More than 6.8 billion recommendations on culture and taste have been provided since the company’s founding.
“Our community is growing quickly, and we want to bring our global base the most accurate predictions and strongest network to help them discover and engage,” said Andrei Oghina, co-founder of TasteDive. “We could not think of a better fit to help us deliver on this mission than Qloo. Qloo’s longstanding commitment to privacy-by-design personalization and the fact that their API is completely anonymized and encrypted were attractive selling points for us as privacy is paramount for our users.”
Qloo provides brands with cultural artificial intelligence delivered through a high performance, privacy-centric platform, allowing them to make more informed predictions about what their customers’ tastes might be and how their tastes correlate across over a dozen major categories, including music, film, television, podcasts, dining, nightlife, fashion, consumer products, books and travel. Qloo helps brands solve real-world problems such as driving sales, saving money on media buys, choosing locations and building brands. Its AI platform is the market leader in providing completely anonymized and encrypted consumer taste data and recommendations for leading companies in the tech, entertainment, publishing, retail, travel, hospitality and CPG sectors. Additionally, Qloo serves developers by integrating its API into a wide range of apps to make them smarter. Clients include BMW, Tablet Hotels, IAC, Equinox, Penguin Random House, Campbell’s Soup, Cross Creek Pictures, Samsung and Swarovski.
The acquisition will keep the founding TasteDive team in place, maintaining a deep commitment to the TasteDive community and platform. Andrei Oghina, Founder of TasteDive, will remain as Chief Executive Officer and Alex Elias will serve as Chairman. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
To experience TasteDive on the web, please go to www.tastedive.com.
To learn more about what Qloo can do for marketers, please go to www.qloo.com.
SOURCE Qloo
Acquisitions
IHG® Welcomes Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas to its Family of Brands

IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has welcomed a new family member to its portfolio of brands, with the acquisition of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.
Six Senses is renowned for its focus on wellness and sustainability, with each hotel and resort set in locations of incredible natural beauty that will stop you in your tracks, delivering an uncompromising level of service that will stay with you long after you’ve left. All of which has been recognized through a host of industry awards and accolades* including Travel+Leisure (World Best Award, Top Hotel Brand for two years in a row), TIME Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler and Skift to name a few.
Featuring properties in 12 countries, Six Senses is behind some of the world’s most enticing hotels, resorts and spas, including: a 19th-century wine estate in the Douro Valley (Portugal), breathtaking island resorts in the Seychelles and Maldives, beach-side retreats in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Oman, a city escape in Singapore, and residences in the mountains of Courchevel (France).
Six Senses joins a growing number of luxury brands in the IHG family, including:
- InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest luxury hotel brand, which recently celebrated the opening of its 200th hotel and was named World’s Leading Hotel Brand title for the 12th time at the World Travel Awards (WTA). This is a brand dedicated to those who appreciate and enjoy The InterContinental Life – the glamour and exhilaration of fascinating places, mixed with international know-how and local cultural wisdom.
- Regent® Hotels & Resorts, also recently acquired and now undergoing a repositioning which celebrates the brand’s deep luxury heritage and revered legacy. Born in 1970, this collection of modern hotels and resorts is rooted in extraordinary living, with a legacy of luxury that endures to this day.
- Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, the industry pioneer that first introduced the boutique concept to the U.S. The brand is now set to open in 20 new global destinations including Mexico City, Paris, Barcelona, Bali and Shanghai, each of which will showcase bold, playful design, award-winning dining and surprising amenities to ensure guests have the ultimate boutique hotel stay.
Across IHG’s four leading luxury brands, guests can now enjoy nearly 300 luxury hotels around the world, with more than 100 set to open in the coming years.
As part of the IHG family, Six Senses is expected to expand to 60 properties within the next 10 years. This includes incredible new Six Senses hotels and resorts from a restored 14th-century fort in Rajasthan, to villas on a private island in Cambodia, and the brand’s first hotel in North America – a contemporary duo of twisting towers designed by Bjarke Ingles near the High Line in Manhattan’s West Chelsea.
IHG’s Chief Executive Officer, Keith Barr, said: “IHG’s growing portfolio of luxury brands is a collection of the very best in the travel industry. Each one offers something unique to our guests, and together they offer an unparalleled choice of locations and experiences. We’re incredibly proud to welcome Six Senses into our family of brands and look forward to opening more stunning hotels, resorts and spas – each one staying true to Six Senses’ world-renowned reputation for wellness and an unwavering commitment to purposeful travel.”
Core to every Six Senses hotel and resort is a Six Senses Spa, where guests can relax, reconnect, and completely refresh. Guests are guided on a personal path to finding harmony and balance, to ensure positive and lasting benefits. Unique to the hospitality sector, Six Senses has also taken wellness out of the spa and integrated it across the entire stay, helping guests learn something new and reconnect with themselves, others, and the world around them.
“This is an exciting new era for Six Senses,” said Six Senses Chief Executive Officer, Neil Jacobs. “IHG believes in our purpose to merge the two platforms of wellness and sustainability to promote personal health, and the health of the planet. Joining forces with IHG means we can use a wealth of systems and operational excellence to grow our brand and reach new markets without losing our quirky personality and playful touch.”
In the near future guests will be able to book their Six Senses stay through IHG’s booking platforms, such as the ihg.com website and the company’s leading mobile app, and benefit from the advantages of the IHG® Rewards Club loyalty programme.
With 15 of the world’s leading hotel brands and more than 5,500 hotels around the world, IHG offers travelers and members of its global loyalty programme IHG® Rewards Club, a hotel stay for all travel occasions.
SOURCE IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)
Acquisitions
Weekend Unlimited Signs Definitive Agreement With R&D Pharma for Jamaican Interests

Weekend Unlimited Inc. (“Weekend” or the “Company”) (CSE: POT) (FSE: 0OS1) (OTCMKTS: WKULF) having announced a Letter of Intent on 1 November 2018 to acquire R&D Pharma’s Jamaican interests, has now entered into a definitive agreement with R&D Pharma, which is anticipated to close next week.
R&D Pharma (“RDP”) is a Canadian company building a vertically integrated medical cannabis business in Jamaica. RDP has secured a Tier-3 Cultivator’s License, which allows for full cultivation of cannabis plants on land of over 5 acres, which in this case applies to the 98-acre RDP property.
R&D Pharma Highlights include:
- Approved Tier-3 cultivators license
- Medical tourism in Jamaica, plus phenotyping with Jamaican sativas, to brand and export internationally recognized strains, extracts, and infused products
- Will be a significant exporter of branded full spectrum extracts as well as extracted cannabinoids from one of world’s lowest cost geographies for growing cannabis
“Upon signing this deal, we are excited to accelerate operations in Jamaica. There has been tremendous work accomplished on the property by the team on the ground and the cultivation results have been impressive in both quality and economically,” noted Mr. Paul Chu, Weekend Unlimited President and CEO.
SOURCE Weekend Unlimited Inc.
Acquisitions
Geyser Brands Inc. Announces Signing of Letter of Intent to Acquire Brands

Geyser Brands Inc. (formerly Kanzen Capital Corp.) (TSX-V: GYSR) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent (the “Letter of Intent”) with Solace Management Group Inc. (“Solace”), a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia, setting out certain terms and conditions as to the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares (the “PurchasedShares”) of Solace by way of a share purchase, share exchange or similar transaction, following a review of all relevant legal, regulatory and tax matters (the “Proposed Transaction”).
Solace’s business consists of leveraging its brands, intellectual property, proprietary formulations in the hemp and cannabis markets by licensing distribution and production arrangements. Solace’s brands and assets include among other assets:
- Apawthecary Pets – a leading hemp-based pet treat brand with formulations for human grade, all-natural pet treats, salves and oral drops. Apawthecary Pets products are currently sold in pet stores and veterinarian clinics across Canada.
- Apothecary Naturals – a line of hemp based topical products, pain creams, organic soaps, lip balms and men’s topical grooming products.
- Apothecary Ink – a line of hemp based all-natural tattoo after care products.
- WildTail Pets – a line of single ingredient freeze-dried pet products, including hemp-infused pet treats, kibble and freeze-dried pet foods for dogs and cats.
- Apothecary Labs – a research and development arm of Solace engaged in technology and formulation development for beverages, topicals and other cannabis and hemp infused nutraceutical products.
Solace distributes its products in Canada through over 3,000 stores including Bosleys, PetLand, Pharmasave, Bukerfields, Master-Feeds, Global Pet Foods, Shoppers Drug Mart, Woofies, PetValue, Pet Planet & Bone & Biscuit. International distribution extends to the UK, Caribbean Islands, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the USA.
Summary of the Proposed Transaction
The Proposed Transaction is subject to, among other things: (1) the Company being satisfied with its due diligence review of Solace; (2) the receipt of all necessary consents, including all necessary third party consents; (3) board approvals of Geyser and Solace, (4) approvals and authorizations including any applicable shareholder approval; (5) TSXV Exchange (the “Exchange”) approval; (6) receipt of an independent valuation report of Solace, if required; (7) satisfaction of any Exchange requirements; and (8) the parties negotiating and entering into a definitive binding agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction, with such other customary closing conditions.
The Letter of Intent contemplates that in exchange for the Purchased Shares, the Company will pay an aggregate purchase price of $3,900,000 (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustments, to the shareholders of Solace (the “SolaceShareholders”). The Purchase Price payable by the Company shall be paid by way of (1) an aggregate cash payment of $400,000 (the “Cash Payment”), a portion of which will be payable to each Solace Shareholder in proportion to the number of Purchased Shares such Solace Shareholder owns against the aggregate number of Purchased Shares, and (2) in respect of the balance of $3,500,000, by the issuance of 5,833,333 common shares (the “Consideration Shares”) of the Company at a deemed price of $0.60 per common share, subject to Exchange approval (the “Share Payment”). As with the Cash Payment, the number of the Consideration Shares each Solace Shareholder shall receive upon closing of the Proposed Transaction will be in proportion to the number of Purchased Shares such Solace Shareholder owns against the aggregate number of Purchased Shares. The specific terms of the Cash Payment and Share Payment will be outlined in the definitive binding agreement and the Company will provide an update accordingly. Certain Consideration Shares may be subject to escrow in accordance with Exchange policies. All Consideration Shares will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring on 4 months and 1 days from the date of issuance. On completion of the Proposed Transaction, Solace will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
Although the parties have entered into the Letter of Intent, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed, or at all. No finder’s fees are payable in respect of the Proposed Transaction.
The Letter of Intent may be terminated at any time by either party in certain circumstances.
The Company currently has 20,928,284 common shares issued and outstanding. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company will have 26,751,617 common shares issued and outstanding.
The Proposed Transaction is not an “arm’s length transaction” as such term is defined in the Exchange’s Policy 1.1 and constitutes a “related party transaction” as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (“MI 61-101”) by reason of Bradley D. Kersch (“Mr. Kersch”), director of the Company, also being director and President of Solace. Furthermore, Mr. Kersch owns 25% of the Purchased Shares, and who, together with other members of Mr. Kersch’s family, own an aggregate of 52.98% of the Purchased Shares. Mr. Kersch currently owns 1,826,434 common shares of the Company representing 8.73% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis. The Letter of Intent contemplates that, in the event the Proposed Transaction were to close, Mr. Kersch would hold 3,284,767 common shares of the Company representing 12.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis, and Mr. Kersch, together with other members of his family, would own 4,917,127 common shares of the Company representing 18.38% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a non-fully diluted basis.
Notwithstanding any requirement the Exchange may have with respect to the Proposed Transaction, Mr. Kersch has disclosed to the other directors of the Company (the “Disinterested Directors”) his interest in Solace and the Proposed Transaction and as such, only the Disinterested Directors who are “independent” as such term is defined in MI 61-101 will be entitled to vote on any board resolutions, or make any decisions, to approve the Proposed Transactions. The Letter of Intent has been approved by only the independent Disinterested Directors.
In respect of the requirements of MI 61-101, the Company is relying on the exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval required under MI 61-101. The Company is exempt from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101 in reliance of sections 5.5(b) and 5.5(e) as no securities of the Company are listed on the specified markets outlined therein and the current Control Person, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, owning 26.29% of the current issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company, supports the Proposed Transaction and (1) is not an interested party, (2) is at arm’s length to the interested party, and (3) supports the transaction. Additionally, the Company is exempt from minority shareholder approval of MI 61-101 in reliance of section 5.7(1)(c). The Proposed Transaction will not create a new Control Person as such term is used applicable securities laws.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
THIS NEWS RELEASE, PROVIDED PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS ABSENT REGISTRATION OR APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.
This news release contains forward‐looking statements and forward‐looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements or information. Forward‐looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as “appear”, “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “approximate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “would” and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward‐looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the risks associated with the marijuana industry in general such as operational risks in growing; competition; incorrect assessment of the value and potential benefits of various transactions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws and government regulations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward‐looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information relating to Geyser is available at www.sedar.com.
SOURCE: Geyser Brands Inc.
-
Airlines/Aviation 7 days ago
Corendon Boeing 747 Has ‘Landed’ in the Hotel’s Garden
-
Automotive6 days ago
MSTS Becomes First FinTech Company to be Approved as European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) Provider
-
European Commission Press Releases6 days ago
Commissioner Stylianides meets Civil Protection Directors General of the Union for the Mediterranean in Barcelona
-
Computer Electronics7 days ago
Telesoft Technologies Announces New Board Member – Former HSBC Group CISO Dr Alison Vincent
-
Acquisitions5 days ago
Geyser Brands Inc. Announces Signing of Letter of Intent to Acquire Brands
-
European Commission Press Releases3 days ago
Digital Single Market: EU negotiators agree to set up new European rules to improve fairness of online platforms’ trading practices
-
Cannabis6 days ago
Green Growth Brands Partners with Simon Property Group to Launch America’s First Chain of CBD Shops
-
Alternative Energies7 days ago
BATTERY JAPAN 2019: Solid-state battery and EV battery imminently set for commercialisation